AEGiS-BAYW: Massachusettes Red Ribbon Ride still looking for riders, volunteers

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Massachusettes Red Ribbon Ride still looking for riders, volunteers

Bay Windows - August 3, 2006
Ethan Jacobs, ejacobs@baywindows.com

About 135 riders are gearing up to ride across Massachusetts Aug. 12-13 to raise money for HIV/AIDS service organizations, but Andi Genser, ride manager for the third annual Mass Red Ribbon Ride, said there's always room for more. The prospect of embarking on a 175-mile ride on short notice may be daunting to most mere mortals, especially since many of the riders have been busy training all summer, but Genser said there are plenty of options to allow biking aficionados of different athletic levels to take part.

"If there are people who are already riders, who already ride, we have a 50-mile option that anyone who's riding a bit can ride anyway," said Genser. The 50-mile course consists of riding the second half of the second day of the ride, which finishes at Regis College in Weston. Genser said regular riders who are in shape and comfortable doing 20 or 30 mile rides would likely be able to make the 50-mile route, and if they have trouble finishing there are vans following the riders to help them out.

Genser also said that riders are welcome to sign up for the longer routes, either riding the entire 175 miles over two days or picking one leg of the route, the 75 miles the first day from Pittsfield to Northampton or the 100 mile route from Northampton to the finish in Weston. For those who want to participate in the ride, which raises funds for eight HIV/AIDS organizations across the state, without riding, Genser said there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer. People can volunteer to pass out water and food at any of the nine pit stops along the route or volunteer as a member of the crew, driving alongside the riders to pick them up if they need help or helping set up signs along the road marking the route. And there are a few volunteer positions for people with specialized skills.

"We need massage therapists to volunteer and help us both at Northampton on Saturday afternoon and evening and at Weston on Sunday afternoon," said Genser. "[A post-ride massage is] one of the things we love to offer to our riders. It really makes a difference."

For more information on riding or volunteering for the Mass. Red Ribbon Ride call 1.888.MASS.RIDE or visit www.massredribbonride.org.

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